Beautifully light by 5a.m. We'd picked a motel quite close to Perth Airport. Dropped the hire-car at the airport. We'd bid in an auction for an upgrade using Air NZ airpoints, but that was unsuccessful. Fortunately our existing bags were just within limits.

Ran a little late into Auckland, but still had plenty of time until our Christchurch flight. Rain threatened as we walked between terminals, but held off long enough.

Lynn talked me into a couple wines until time to head through. Security found a multi-tool in my backpack which I'd forgotten about - again. They took details of when we'd gone through Perth security to show them what had slipped through. They directed me to a stationery shop within 200 metres to mail it home - at $3.50 for a courier envelope I thought that was a good deal.

After a fascinating and surprisingly hassle-free trip it is always good to be home and reminded how good we have it here. We take good soil and abundant water for granted, and we don't have a salinity issue like so much of Australia. Our current plan is to head back to Perth in about May to do the north of W.A.